The Times-Standard is still awaiting confirmation of the victim's name from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

posted 1:48 PM

According to witness accounts, the shark attack occurred at Bunker Surf Spot off the North Jetty. A number of people, including surfer David Hargrave were in the water when the attack occurred and heard the victim calling for help.

Hargrave and other witnesses said the victim was able to get to shore on his own power, but was bleeding profusely. An emergency medical technician was at the beach and able to apply pressure to the man's wounds while he was loaded into a vehicle to be transported to the hospital, witnesses said.

Blue Lake resident Jason Gabriel drove the victim from the water's edge to the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and Myrtle Avenue, where they were met by emergency personnel. Gabriel said he doesn't know the victim, but put him in his truck as fast as he could.

"I happened to be driving by as they were pulling him out of the water," Gabriel said.

Gabriel said he'd just gotten out of the water himself after surfing and was headed home when he saw the victim.

"I was probably doing 110 mph, I've never seen anything like this in my life," Gabriel said.

He said the victim had about four 12-inch long gashes from his ribs to below his hips.

"It punctured all the way through. There were guts and meat hanging," Gabriel said, adding that the victim appeared to be in shock. "He was going 'Oh my God, oh my God.'"

posted 12:33 PM

A man bitten by a shark off the North Jetty today may not survive.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a call at 12:11 p.m. indicating that a man had been bitten by a shark.

Lt. Steve Knight said the man, apparently a surfer, was being transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.